(YoungBiz.com) - That you've got an awesome
business is a no-brainer. But getting the word out to all your
would-be customers--well, that's going to take a plan of
action. Marketing is the official term for the zillions of ways you
can tell the world you're in business.

Major corporations have whole departments dedicated to this
effort. And many colleges and universities offer degrees dedicated
to this field of study. So how do you, a 'trep who's just
entering the business world, expect to compete? It's easier
than you may think.

On Your
Mark...
Before you start running in a dozen different directions at
once--printing off business cards, placing an ad in your hometown
newspaper and stuffing fliers in mailboxes--take a deep breath, get
out a pen and paper, and sit down.

The first thing you need is a plan. As the head honcho, you know
your business better than anyone else. So put that information to
work and build a marketing plan. Jot down:

Where to find those customers. Are they right in your
own neighborhood? In the city where you live? Spread across the
United States (i.e., if you have a Web-based business)? Do they
belong to organizations like Scouts, 4-H or PTA?

Get Set...
Now that you have an idea of who your potential customers are,
start thinking of the marketing methods you'll use to tell them
about your business. Your next step is to think of...

Ways to serve your customers better. What can you offer
your customers that your competitors don't? For example, if
your business is a car wash, perhaps you could entice customers by
advertising that you hand-dry all vehicles.

A list of top advertising methods. How do you see
yourself spreading the word about your business? Before you begin
your list, here's some good news--effective marketing
doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, one of the best sources
of advertising for any business is word-of-mouth. Beyond that, a
simple business card can do wonders, as can a keychain or T-shirt
with your logo emblazoned on it. More good news: If you have a home
computer and an inkjet printer, you can save money by creating your
own designs.

Target dates for your marketing campaign. As with any
goal you set in life, you need to give yourself target deadlines to
accomplish what you've set out to do. Break your goals into
manageable pieces. If you need business cards, for example, set a
deadline for designing the logo, and another deadline for getting
them to the printer.

A way to track your results. There are lots of easy ways
to accomplish this. For example, you could distribute fliers with a
coupon for a 10 percent discount and track how many coupons are
used. Or you could keep count of the number of phone calls you get
from customers on an average day, then see if that number increases
after you run an ad in your hometown newspaper.

You don't have to have a marketing degree or a whopping
advertising budget to successfully sell your business. You just
need to turn on the creative juices, create a plan and get
busy!